The Forrest City times., 1887-12-10
boldener, and . rhen each bad bad hI.

boldener; and a when each had said his say, my mother made a speech. She would not. she declared lose money that belonged to her fatherless boyi "if none of the rest of you dare" she said, Jim and dare Back we will go, the way we came, and small thanks to you big hulking, chicken hearted men. We'll have that chest open, if we die for f.. And I'll thank you for that bag, Mrs Crossley to bring back our lawful money in.n
 Of course, 1 said 1 would go with my mother; and Of course they all cried at our foolhardiness: but even then not man would go along with us. All they would do was to give me loaded pistol, lest we were attacked; and to promise to have horses ready saddled, in case we were pursued on our return; while one lad was t0 ride for. ward to the doctors in search of armed assistance.
 Ny heart was beating finely when we two set forth In the cold night upon this danger ous venture. 4 ful moon was beginning to rise and peeFed redy through the upper edges of the fog, and this Increased our haste for 1t was plain, before we came forth again, tlrat all would be as bright as day, and our departure exposed to the eyes of any watchers. We slipped along the hedges, noiseess and swift nor did we see or hear anythlng to Increase our terFors. til, to our huge relief. the door of the Admiral Benbow had closed behind us
 l slipped the bolt at once, and we stood and panted for moment in the dark. alone in tho house with the dead captains body. Then my mother got a candle in the bar, and, holding each others hands, we ad- vanced Into the parlor. He lay as we had left him, on his back, with his eyes open, and one arm stretched ouh
 "Draw down tho blind. Jim" whispered my mother; they might come and watch outside. And now,n sad she, when 1 had done so, ''we have to get the key of Gldt and who's to touch 1t, 1 should like to know?n and she gave kind of sob as she said the words.
 west down or n.y knees at once. On the floor close to his hand there was a lItle round Of paper. b.aekened on the one side. eouId not doubt u ai this was ths Blact spot; and, taking lt un, ] iound wfiIlen on the other side, in good. clear haiid. ths short message, "You have tIil ten tonight" !"
 He had tiH ten, mothCr,p said l; and, just as l said it onr old cloek bcg1n sirlJ' ins This sudden noise siafti5a s sleek inglyi hnt the uew5 WAS good, for t was on. ly six.
 "Now, Jim" she said. 'that keyv
 felt in his pockets, one after another A few small coins, thimble, and some thread and big needles, piece of pigtail tobacco bitten away at the end, his gully with the crooked handle, a pocket compass and a tlnder-box, were all that they contained, aud began to despair
 Perhaps it's round his neck" suggested my mother.
 Overcoming strong repugnanoc, I tore open his shirt at tho neck, and there, sure enough, hanging to a bit of tairy string, which 1 cut with his own gully, Wo found the key, Al this triumph We were filled with hope and hurried up-staiTs, without delay, tO the iil.io room where he had slept So long, and where bis box had stood since the day of his arrival.
 It was like any other seaInan's chest on the outside, the Initial "B." burned on the top of it with a hot iron, and the corners somewhat smashed and broken as by long, rough usage.
 "Giye me the key" said my mother; and though the lock was very stiG, she had turned 1t and thrown back the lid in twink ling.
 
 from the interior but nothing was to be seen on the top except a suit of very good clothes, carefully brushed and folded. They had | never bseu Worn. my mother said. Under that the miscellany began-a quadrant e tin l canlkin, several sticks Of tobacco, two brace Of very handsome pistols, piece of bar sil- yer, an oid spanish watch and some other triakets of iitt.a value and mostly of foreign lyn h brass, aud five of six curious West Indian shells. Ii has often set me thinking since that he should have carried about these shells with him in bis wandering, guilty, and hunted life.
 In the meantime, we had found nothing of any value but the silver and the tYinkets. and neither of these were in our way. Un. derneath there was an old b0at-cloclI, whitened with sea-salt on many harbor- l bar My mother pulled it up with lmpa. tience, and there lay before us. the last thngs in the chest, bundle tied up in oil. cloth, and looking like papers, and canvas bag, that gave forth, at a touch, the jingle of gold. est wOman," said my mother 'Fll have my dues, and not farthing over. Hold Mrs. Crossley's bag" And she began to count over the amount of the captains score from the sailors bag into the one was holding.
 It was long. difficult business, for the coins wero of all countries and sizes-doub- looms, and louis-d'ors, and guineas, and pieces of eight, and 1 know not what be- sides, all shaken together at random. The guineas, too, were about the scarcest and il was with these only that my mother knew how to make her count
 When we were about half way through, l suddenly put my hand upon her arm; for had heard in the silent frosty air, sound that brought my heart in my mouth-the tap-tapping of the blind mans stick upon the frozen road. It drew nearer aud nearer, while we sat holding our breath. Then il struck sharp on the inn door, and then we could hear the handle being tuned, and the bolt attllng as the wretched being tried to enter; aud then there was a long time of silence both within and without. At last the tapping re-commenced. and to our indescrib- nble joy and gratitude, died slowly away again until it ceased to be heard.
 Mother said |, take the whole and let's be going;" for was sure that the bolt ed door must have seemed suspicious, and would bring the whole hornet's nest about our ears; though how thankful was that had Dolted it, none could tell who had never met that terrible blind man.
 ITO BE cONTNUEDl
 ------------.--s.-s-
 4 Logical Child.